Author: Tatyana Yukhtman

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About Tatyana Yukhtman
Tatyana Yukhtman is the founder and director of Groza Learning Center. A Harvard Kennedy School and UCLA graduate with over 25 years in education, she has helped thousands of LA students build the executive functioning skills they need to succeed.

Posts by Tatyana Yukhtman

ISEE Prep Timeline: A 12-Week Study Plan That Works

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Quick Answer: A 12-week ISEE prep timeline provides a practical structure for most students. Begin with a diagnostic practice test in Week 1 to identify strengths and weaknesses. Spend Weeks 2–9 developing skills across Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Mathematics Achievement, and Reading Comprehension, while also practising the essay. Use Weeks 10 and 11 for full-length […]

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Hybrid Homeschool in Los Angeles: What It Is and How to Find the Right Program

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Quick Answer: What Is a Hybrid Homeschool Program? A hybrid homeschool program combines structured in-person instruction with parent-led home education. Students typically attend a learning center 2–3 days per week and complete the remaining work at home. Hybrid homeschool suits families who want more flexibility than traditional school but more structure than full homeschool. The […]

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Homeschool Pods in Los Angeles: How They Work and How to Find One

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Quick Answer: What Is a Homeschool Pod? A homeschool pod (also called a learning pod or micro-school) is a small group of homeschooled children — typically 2–8 students — who learn together, often in a shared space or learning center. Pods combine the flexibility of homeschool with the social benefits of group learning. In Los […]

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ISEE Levels Explained: Lower, Middle and Upper — Which Does Your Child Take?

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Quick Answer: Which ISEE Level Does My Child Take? The ISEE level your child takes depends on the grade they are applying to enter, not the grade they are currently in. Children applying to Grades 5–6 take the Lower Level ISEE. Students applying to Grades 7–8 take the Middle Level ISEE, while students applying to […]

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Homeschool Programs in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide for Parents

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Quick Answer: What Homeschool Programs Are Available in Los Angeles? Los Angeles has an active homeschool community, and parents can choose from traditional home education, hybrid homeschool programs, homeschool pods, public charter or independent-study options, accredited homeschool programs, and enrichment-based homeschool centers like Groza Learning Center. Groza offers structured, accredited homeschool programs in Pacific Palisades […]

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HSPT Prep Timeline: A 10-Week Study Plan for Catholic High School Admissions

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Quick Answer: How to Study for the HSPT The HSPT is typically administered in November for eighth-grade students. Start preparation in August or September—roughly 10 to 12 weeks before test day. Spend the first week taking a diagnostic practice test. Focus Weeks 2–7 on the five test sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and […]

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HSPT vs ISEE vs SSAT: Which Admissions Test Does Your Child Need?

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Quick Answer: HSPT vs ISEE vs SSAT The HSPT is primarily associated with Catholic high-school admissions, while the ISEE and SSAT are widely used by independent private schools. The ISEE is available at several levels for students in elementary through high-school grades and uses scaled scores, percentile ranks, and stanines; it does not penalize incorrect […]

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How to Build Executive Functioning Skills at Home: 10 Strategies for Parents

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The most effective strategies for building executive functioning skills at home include using visual schedules and checklists, breaking tasks into steps, practising working memory games, using timers for time awareness, narrating planning aloud, giving advance notice before transitions, and teaching self-monitoring through reflection questions. Consistent practice helps children gradually apply these skills more independently.   […]

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Executive Functioning and ADHD: What LA Parents Need to Know

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ADHD is commonly associated with difficulties in executive functioning, including working memory, inhibitory control, task initiation, planning, and time management. Research has found executive-function impairment to be highly prevalent among children with ADHD, although the specific skills affected vary from child to child. Executive-functioning coaching can complement clinical ADHD care by teaching practical strategies, routines, […]

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Executive Functioning and Homework: How to End the Nightly Battle

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When homework consistently takes far longer than expected and ends in conflict, the cause is often an executive functioning gap—not laziness. The three executive functioning skills most responsible for homework struggles are task initiation (getting started), time management (having little sense of how long tasks will take), and working memory (forgetting multi-step instructions while completing […]

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